Shock absorber



, x snocx nBsoBBER.

Application mea V:ruiy 16, 1925.l serial To all 'whom "it may concern:

a citizen of the United State of America,

residing at Ashland, in the unty of Jackson and State of Oregon', haye' invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock 'Absorbers, of which the following isa speci- Iicat-ion.

This invention relates tonew and useful improvements in shock absorbers. 4 The primary object of the invention, is to provide a shock absorber which .is suitable for use as a connection between at least two relatively movable members and which will function to absorb'jolts,A jars, or ishocks applied to either or both'members with the said' jolts, jars, or shocks causing relative movement of said members either toward or simultaneously.

caused to move .relative to each other when jolts, jars, or shocks are applied to either or both, said Aconnection functioning to per mit slight relative movement of. said members either toward or away from each other, but checking or snubbing said movements in either df said directions after the initial,

allowed movement.

A still further object ofthe invention is to vployed for connecting the outer ends of autoniobile chassis bars and their supporting $5, springs, sai'd absorbers also being suitable 'as mountings for bumper bars when so employedf Another object of the invention is to provide an improved formof mounting for the front springs of an automobile whereby all wabbling or shimmying of the front wheels will beiprevented. Y

Qther objects and advantages of the invent'on will. be apparent during the course '45 o/fthe following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts; throughout the same,

- Figure lis a vertical sectional view of the shock absorber embodying 'this invention away from each other or in both'direct'ions PAT-ENT OFFICE CHARLES n. noname, oF nsnna'irn; cancion. f

l shown mounted to vconnect Vthe front ends Be it'known that I, CHARLES R. ROBERTS,-

of a chass'sbafr and the adjacent leaf spring,

and l Figure .2 `is afragmentary elevational view vshowingthe connection between the ass said chassis bar and the'rear end of the 'e leaf spring shown in Fig. 1.A

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose 'of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 5 designates the chassis bar of anautomobile which has pivotally connected to its end the perpendicularly extending plate 6 by means of the pivot bolt Thislate 6 has a substantiallyl rectangularlys aped boss 8 lpro- .jefcting forwardly from the front face there- .o

.The substantially barrel-'shaped cylinder 9 is connected 4to the plate 6 by means of the screws 10 which pass through the'saidvplate and arethreaded into the thickened side wall portion 11 of the cylinder.v This thickened portion 11 is formed with a transversely ex tending groove 12 into which projects the boss 8 o the plate 6.

The cylinder 9 has a uniform bore 13 Aand an end wall 14 which is formed with an internally threaded Vaperture 15. The remaining end of the cylinder 9 has its inner edgerabbeted at 16 and formed withinternal threads'l'. provide shock absorbers `which may be em Threaded into the aperture 15 of the end wall 14 of e cylinder is the externall threaded portion 18 of the cylinder 19 whic is provided `with one end wall 2O having an apertur 21 formed therein provided with a of the bore 13. of the cylinder 9 by arrang- .ing the flange 23 .at different points along .the length of the same.

The cylinder 19 may be held in anydesired adjustedl posi- L face of the end wall-14 of .the cylinder..` lltf will be noted that the smooth portion'24 .of the cylinder. is provided with a port 24 I pressed around'the periphery of the V aforementioned which is threaded upon the portion 18 of the cylinder 19 and wedges against the outer which forms a communication between the bores of the cylinders 9 and 19;

The reference character 426 representsV a semi-elliptical spring which has connected to its outer end by the pivotr bolt 27a lug 28 having theV aperture 29 formed therein through which extends the threaded portion 30 of the piston rod 31 which is maintained therein by means ofthe lock nuts 32 arranged onopposite sides of the apertured portion of the lug 29. l

This piston rod 31 extends into the 'bore 13v of the cylinder 9 yand also enters the-bore of thecylinder 19 at its upper end.

vA cylindriqally-shaped bearing 33 is connectedto the threaded portion 17 of the rabbeted edgel 16 of the cylinder 9 by means of the externally threaded yannular iiange.'24. outwardly of the bearing portion 33 there is formed a pocket 35 intended to receive the 'packing 36 which is held in'place and comrod 31 by the packing nut 37.

In'spaced relation to the outer end 38 of thepiston rod 31 a piston head 39 is suitably 'connected to the said rod, as by being shrunk-thereupon or by being welded theretof This piston head 39.is of a suitable size to ermit being reciprocated through .the

bore 13 of the cylinder 9 and is formed with' the piston rings 40 which functions in a well known manner to prevent leakage of the compressible substance whichis tobe placed inthe cylinder bore 13 and to be arranged on opposite sides of the piston head 39.

By'inspecting Fig. 1, it will beseen that the pistonvrod 3 1 has a passageway 41 which enters the same from its end 38 and extends axially therethrough to terminate a suitable distance below the piston head 39. A port 42 is formed in the rod 31 and functions to establish a communication between the passageway 41 and the bore 13 of the cylin# der 9 below the piston head 39.

Interposed between the lower face ofV the annular flange 23 carried by the cylinder 19 and the upper :tace of thepiston head 39 is a compressionl spring 43 which will` function to check `orsnub the movement of the piston head 39 upwardly through the bore 13 of the cylinder 9. i

The functioning of the ,structure so tar described to absorb shocks, jars, or jolts received by either of the relatively movable members 5 and 26 may be described in detail as follows It is to be understood that a compressible substance is located in the cylinder 9 on oppiston posite sides of the piston head 39 and that any desired vamount of the said substance may be positioned within the cylinder. Any

shriek' or jar applied .to either of the 'membersf or'26 which" will cause the same to ,tend to move toward each other will cause the piston head 39 to move upwardly 'through the bore 13 of the cylinder 9. This movement'ot the cylinder head 39, of course, has been caused by a similar movement of the piston rod 31 upwardly Vthrough the bore l3nt the cylinder 9, the bore of the cylindrical bearing 33, and the bore v,of the adjustable cylinder. This upward movement of ythe piston head 39.will cause the compressiblesubstance" located above the head to be compressed and to endeavor to escape to the portion of the cylinder 9 be- 1 low the piston head. During a portion of the upward movement of the piston rod 31 through the bore of the adjustable cylinder 19, this compressible substance will be permitted to pass in to the'bore of the cylinder 19 through the port v24 and downwardly through the passageway 41 formed in the piston rod to escape into the lower portion of the bore ot' the cylinder 19 through the port 42 which communicates with the passageway 41. It will now be seenV that the-port 24 and 42 andthe passageway 41 form a by-pass by means of which the compressible substance may travel from one side of the piston head 39 to the other side.

After the upper end 38 ofthe piston rod,

31 has passed by the port 24 and has thereby closed the same, the substance above the piston head 39 will'be prevented from escaping from the upper portion of the cylinder 9 yto the portion of the said cylinder arranged below the piston head39. This compressiblc substance trapped above thel piston head will check or snub the upward movement of the piston head and will produce a .dash-pot structure. will constantly function to check or snub the upward movement of thepiston head 39 through the bore 13 ot the cylinder 9.

. When the relatively movable members 5 and' 26 are returned to their normal relative positions, the piston head 39 will be returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 which is its normal position. This downward movement of the piston rod 31 will apen the port 24 and will permit the substance locatedy on opposite sides of the piston head 39 to become equalized. It will The compression spring 43, also,

now be seen thatl the reciprocating of the f N Vhen a suitableforce is appliedtoeitlier vof the relativlymovable members and 26 to' cause the same ,tof move away Vfrom each v, other the ,piston rod 3l and -piston headA 39' v bf will be caused to'move downwardly in respect to the cylinder-9.` This downward movement of the piston head 39 will canse 'the compressible'substance located below'tlie sametol be forced into the passageway 41 :'10 through the port A42 and from the u per l`end of thepassagewayinto the bore o the adjustable Vcylinder 19 from which it will l 'escape into the upper portion of the bore of the cylinder `9 by passing through the port l. 24. This escaping ofthe compressible sub- 4 stance from below the piston head ,39 to the- 'portion of the cylinder bore 13 located above the said head will permit the piston head to travel downwardly through the vbore 13 -as 4`tast as the colnpressible substance is per- -mitted 'to `pass by the piston head into the 'upper pertlontof the cylinder). The downward movement-of the rod 31, however, will 'soon cau's'e'fthesport 42 to pass into the bore of the cylindrical 'bearing 33 which will close the communication. between the passageway .for thecom'pressible substance and the portion of the-*cylinder bore 13 arranged belowI the'pistonihead 39.- `Downward movement 30 of thepiston head will then be checked or snubbed due to the compressing ofthe suhsthnce confined therebelow. Y It will nowbe y seen that the cylindrical-bearing 33 cooperates with the port 42 to form avalve` structure' n 86 to close the communication with the passage- -way 31 after a predeterminedl downward 7 movement ofl the piston head 39 through the bore 13 of the cylinder 9.

The portion of the cylinder -9 arranged diametrically' opposite' the portion connected 'to the plate 6 is provided with the threaded sockets 44 into which thevscrews 45 may beJ threaded for fasteninga bumper bar 46 to the said cylinders. It will be noted that thisV bumper bar is arranged above the pivot bolts?- and l27 and-that any pressure or jolts received by the said bar will cause the cylinder 9' to swing longitudinally' of 'the chassis bar 5 upon the, pivot bolt '7. This piston head 39 to travel downwardly through the bore 13 of the cylinder and thereby check the 'movement of the. cylinder. In other words, the shock absorbing feature of the' compressible substance below the piston head 39 will receive and absorb any jolts received by the bumper bar. It will also be noted that a bumper bar will brace the two shock absorberl structures which must constftute the necessary equipment for the front or rear end of an automobile and which are connected to the outer ends of the .chassis barsand the outer ends of the supporting springs.

Figure 2 shows the lchassis bar 5 at the mobile.

swinging of the cylinder 9 will cause the' point where the inner end of thaise' ielliptxcal spring 26 is to be connectedtlie'lreto; .The desired'torm of connection between'- ,thisl end of the spring 26 and the bai.' 5 in cludes what will be termed a stationary plate 47 which .will be connected to the end of the spring 26 by the bolt 48 and to the chassis bar 5 by the vbolt 49 and additional bolts or rivets 50 which will prevent pivotal movement of the stationary plate 47 in respect to the chassis bar 45. This manner of connecting the inner end of a spring to a chassis bar .is intended to prevent any 'swinging of this end ofthe spring in respect to the bar so that all of the relative movement between" the spring and bar must occur at the ends provided with the shock absorber structure. This mounting is further intended to do away with all wabbling-Or shimmying 'of the front wheels of anauto- It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and describedis to be taken as a referred exampleof the same, and that varlous changes` in' the shape, size, and arrangement of parts :may be resorted to-'without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention,= I claim- 1'.' VIn a shock absorber of the type described, a closed cylinder, a piston head in said cylinder, means connected to'said head and projecting out of Tthe cylinder by means o-which vthe head maybe re ciprocated, a eompressible substance in the cylinder on both sides of the head, a by-pa'sY around saidA head for permitting the substance to'escape from one side to the other of said head' when the'lat` ter is reciprocated', means independent of said head for closing the by-pass after the head has reciprocated a predetermined distance in either direction from its normal position. a compresion spring on one side of the piston head for determining the said normalposition ot' the latter, and means for simultaneously changing the location of said nomal position and changing said predetermined distance the head may move before the by-passis closed.

2. In a .shock absorber of the type described. a closed cylinder, a pistonhead in said cylinder, means connected to said head and projecting out of the cylinder by means of whi'chthe head-may be reciproeated, a compressible substance in the cylinder on both sides of the head, a by-pass around said head forl permitting the substance to .escape from one side to thev other of said head when the latter is reciprocat# ed, means independent ot said head forI clo"ing the by-pass after the head has reciprocated a 'predetermined distance in either direction from its normal positiona compression spring on one side of the-piston head for determining the said normalposition `of thelatter, and means for shortening the by-pass and A`bodily moving the compression spring' for changingsaid normal position of the head and for changing the predetermined -distance said head may move before the by-pass .is closed. 3. In l,a shock absorber of the type Vde-j scribed, a. main' cylinder, a cylindrical structure connected to one end of, the main cylinder and `projecting axially thereinto, ythe projecting portion of said cylindrical structure having' a port formed in the wall there` of 'to provide a communication between the bores of the main cylinder and the cylindrical structure, a cylindrically-shaped bearing connected to the remaining end of the main cylinder and projecting thereinto, a piston rod slidable in the bore of the cylindrical structure and the cylindrically-shaped bearing and projecting from the main cylinder through said cylindrically-shaped bea-ring, an axial passageway formed in the piston rod andV communicating with thebore of the cylindrical structure at one'end and a lateral po'rt formed in-the rod at the 'opposite end, a piston head 'fastened in the ro-d nera-,ooo

ntely stopped as the piston rod is reciprocated to pocketthe substance first on one side and' then on the other side of said head'. 1 j I 5. Ir a shock absorber ofthe typey described a main cylinder,`a cylindrical structure connected to one'end oft-lie main cylinbetween the ends of the passageway, and a4 c ompressible substance in said main cylinder on each side 'of the piston head, whereby the sliding movement of the piston ro-d and head will cause the compreesible substance to pass from one lside to the other of said piston head througli said ports and passageway.

4. In a shock absorber of the type described, a'main cylinder, a cylindrical structure'connected'to one end of the main cylinder and. projecting axially thereinto, the projecting portion of said cylindrical strucl ture having a port formed in the wall thereof toprovide a communication between the bores of the main cylinder andthe cylindricaljstructure, a cylindricaslly-shaped bearing connected to the remaining end of the main cylinder and projecting thereinto, a

.piston rod slidablein the bore of the cyly indrical structure andA the cylindricallyshaped bearing and projecting from the inainlcylinder through said cylindricallyshaped bearing, an axial passa eway formed inthe pistpn rod and communicating with the bore of the cylindrical structure at one `end and a lateral port formed in the rod at the opposite end, a piston head fastened on the y, rod betweenthe ends of the passageway,',nd a compressible substance in said main cylinder on `each side of the piston head, 'whereby the' sliding movement/ofthe piston rod and head will cause the coin-v pressible substance topas; from on`e-side to the other-of said piston head through said ports and passageway, the passage of the substance through said-ports being alter' der and. projecting axially thereintmthe project-ing portion or" 'said cylindrical structure throughsaid cylin rically-shapedl bearing,` y

an axlalpassageway formed in the piston rod and communicatingwitlithe bore of the cylindrical structure at pne end and a lateral port formed in the rod at` the opposite end,

a piston head fastened in the rod between the ends of the passageway, a compressible substance in lsaid main cylinder` on each side of the piston head, whereby the slidingmovement of the piston rod and head-will l' cause the compressible. lsubstance to ypass from vone side to the other of saidy piston head through Said `ports and passa eway,

the passage' offt-he substance througisaid ports beingalternately stopped as the piston rody is lreciprocated to pocketv the substance first on one side and then on the other side of said head, and a compression spring engaging `one endv of .the main cylinder and one face of the ,pistoniheadl 6. In a shock absorber of the type de-k scribed, a main cylinder, a cylindrical structure having a lateral flange and adjustably j connected :to one end of the main cylinder to project .axially thereinto, the projecting portion of said cylindrical structure having a port formed in the wall thereoto provide a communication between the bores vof the main Acylinder and the cylindrical structure, a cylindrically-shapedbearing connected to the remain-ing end of the maincylinder and projecting thereinto, the lateral flange carried by the cylindrical structure being moved axially through the bore 'of the main cylinder when the said structureis adj-usted, v'a

piston rod slidabler in the bore of the cylindrical structure and thebore of the cylindrically-shaped bearing and projecting from lthe main cylinderfthrouglfsaid bearing', an axial passageway formed in the piston rod and communicating Vwith the bore of the cylindrical structure at one end iand a lateral port formed in the rod at the opposite end, a piston head fastened on the rod between the ends of the passageway, a compressible substance'in said-main cylinder on each side of said piston'head whereby vthe sliding movement of the piston rod and headl will canse the compresslole substance lli-passage of the substance `through said port being alternately stopped as the piston rofl is reciprocated to pocket the substance first on one side and then on the other side of saicl head, and a compression spring engag- Y ing the lateral lange'at one` end and one 10 face ofthe piston head at its yremaining end.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES R. ROBERTS. 

